Limitless Sky Records: News & Videos

Michel Tyabji has just launched his web site.  Designed by Adil Tyabji, the sight is still not fully functional.  or a taste, please visit:

http://www.micheltyabji.com

Techung La's N. American tour in support of his children's project, Semshae, will be wrapping up tonight with the last show in San Francisco on Sunday, June 13th.  He was in LA last night and invited Lhasa Spirits members Michel Tyabji and Kito Rodriguez to join him on stage for a few songs.  It was a wonderful family firendly evening.  Techung was joined on stage by local Tibetan kids, giving immense happiness to them and their parents.  The ticket included a delicious dinner whose crowning jewel was the immadatsi, a Bhutanese dish made from chillies and cottage cheese.  The event was put on by the Tibetan Association of Southern California.  After San Francisco, Techung will be heading to Switzerland, Austria, Denmark and Germany.
We wish Techung La nothing but the best for this tour.
For more information, please click the link below:

Click here for complete tour information

The web site for the documentary film "A Good Day To Die" (designed by Adil Tyabji) is now up.

The film features music by Michel Tyabji, Techung, Dennis Banks and Glen Begay.

www.agooddaytodiefilm.com

Garikayi Tirikoti - 2010 USA Tour.

Garikayi Tirikoti is amongst the greatest Mbira masters and innovators of all time.  And he is now in New York City!

For those close to NYC, Mr. Tirikoti is available for private lessons, group lessons, concerts, lectures and demonstrations, in mbira playing, singing, hosho styles, drumming and more. He is available to tune and repair mbira instruments, and he has also brought a few of his beautifully crafted mbiras for sale.  His mbiras are legendary, this is your chance to acquire the unique tunings such as High Mohororo.

For those away from NYC but willing to host Mr. Tirikoti, please write to his host ,Savanna Madamombe.

She can be contacted at:Tirikoti.Host@gmail.com

Flip Switch PR is working it's magic!  The recent press release has been picked up by All About Jazz.

 

Check it out!

Ray Light Japan, the organizer of Techung's 2009 tour in Japan, has just released a live enhanced CD of his show at Suntory Hall in Tokyo.  Suntroy Hall is amongst Tokyo's most prestigious venues.  The house was filled to capacity.  Tehung was backed up by Michel Tyabji on percussion.

Please check out the web site:

http://ray-light.net/projectsupport/shcd-eng.html

We should have the CD available in the US soon.

Techung's childrens album and project, Semshae - Heart Songs has its own web site.  It went live as of this afternoon.

Check it out: http://www.semshae.org/

Semshae’s mission is to ensure that Tibet’s language and culture of compassion are preserved through children’s music for all ages.

White Swan Records have hired FlipSwitch PR to promote the Dalai Lama Renaissance soundtrack album.  The idea is to get more press in time for His Holiness's visit to North America in May.

Please click here to read the press release.

Drop us a message, let us know what you think!

Tehcung's new single, Udang Lemo - Dance Like Turquoise Bee (with Michel Tyabji on percussion), is to be included in an Amnesty International CD.  The official release date is to be announced soon.

According to Radio Free Asia, on Sunday, dozens of Tibetan middle-school students in Machu County in eastern Tibet protested for Tibetan independence near the county centre. They were joined by more than 500 Tibetans from the area. When 40 of the protesters were detained, hundreds gathered in front of the government offices to demand their release. Read more here: http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?id=2167

In spite of China's massive security clampdown in Tibet, these young students refused to be silenced. Please take action to demand their release and an end to China's military crackdown in Tibet.

Send a letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao

Meanwhile on the same day, 11 more Tibetans were detained in Nepal for participating in peaceful protests. This new wave of arrests follow the imprisonment of at least 16 Tibetans for 90 days without trial for taking part in protests on March 10th. Under heavy Chinese influence, the Nepalese government has ordered police to violently crackdown on peaceful Tibet protests. At least two Tibetan youth were preemptively detained on March 9th and also sentenced to 90 days in prison.

Please take a moment to call the Nepali embassy or consulate near you to express your grave concern over the handling of the protests and for the immediate release of those detained.

Find contact information here: http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/Nepal

A week ago today, in more than 100 cities around the world, Tibetans and their supporters commemorated the 51st anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan National Uprising. Watch SFTtv for highlights from this remarkable global uprising for Tibet: http://blog.studentsforafreetibet.org/

This year on March 10th, many Tibetans took action to assert their Tibetan identity by carrying signs with the message "I Am Tibetan" in solidarity with a powerful new movement being led by the younger generation inside Tibet. A newly released hip hop song from Amdo called "The New Generation" speaks to this growing sense of Tibetan pride. Watch the music video here: http://www.highpeakspureearth.com/2010/03/new-generation-hip-hop-music-video-from.html

As young Tibetans everywhere take up the torch of the freedom struggle from their parents' generation, it is clear that the spirit of the 1959 Tibetan uprising is still alive and growing.

With hope,

Tendor, Tendolkar, Kate, Schuyler, Mary Kate, Morgan and all of us here at SFT HQ

More info:

March 10th Statement of H.H. the Dalai Lama


SFT's March 10th Press Statement


China: Accountability Overdue on Tibet Protests (Human Rights Watch)

Strike Hard Campaign:

China launches "Strike Hard" Campaign ahead of sensitive anniversary

China steps up security crackdown in Tibet


Nepal arrests:

Jailed Tibetan exiles in Nepal refuse food

Nepal jails Tibetan protesters without trial for 90 days


Nepal steps up security to quell Tibetan protest


Tell your friends about this.

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Students for a Free Tibet's Online Action Center.

After months of dedicated work with the film team, Adil Tyabji has finished the graphic design for the upcoming film "A Good Day to Die".  The film is presented by Yacha Dehe Wintun Nation.  Lynn Salt and David Mueller produced and directed it.  David shot it while Lynn did the location sound recording. 

Please send this image around, tell all your friends, post it on your web sites, add it to your Fabebook and Myspace pages - help build the buzz, be a part of the American Indian Movement!

Michel Tyabji scored the film.  To say we are  excited about its release is the understatement of the year.  Rosa and Michel Tyabji mixed it at the Limitless Sky studio in Los Angeles.  Music is by Dennis Banks, Glen Begay and Techung.  Please keep your eyes peeled for an email about this important project.

This film NEEDS to be seen by everybody.  Information is POWER, this film is filled with power - an American story teeming with mythic characters - an epic story of modern times.

The trailer and web site are coming soon - check back in a couple of weeks.

Techung has just announced that his much awaited children's album, Senshae, will be officially released in Bloomington, Indiana (May 2010), in conjunction with His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit. The first copy will be offered to His Holiness and will receive his blessing.

To learn more about this important project, please visit: http//:www.myspace.com/semshae

We this is so much more than a children's album.  The message of Peace is its overriding principal, while the music is beautiful, incorporating exotic instruments like the hammered dulcimer and featuring children living in Nepal, the US and India.

We wish Techung La nothing but the best with this important album.  We wish the album to make its way into Tibet so that the children there can feel there is still hope, that there is a place in the World for them to flourish and be happy.

"A Good Day to Die" is a hard hitting, no nonsense feature-length documentary film about Dennis Banks, one of the Co-Founders of the American Indian Movement (AIM).  It was directed and produced by the incredible David Mueller and Lynn Salt.  The couple followed Dennis around the USA and Japan for an entire year.  They did all the production work - David shot it, Lynn recorded the sound and somehow they managed to direct and produce all at the same time!

AIM staged daring actions to raise awareness about some of the issues which afflict the indigenous peoples of what is today the USA. 

One of these was the protest at the Breau of Indian Affairs (BIA, Nov. 3rd, 1972) in Washington DC. AIM members drove across the country and met at the BIA building to gain audience with those in charge.  Instead, they were denied the audience and attacked by police.

This is an American story - the story of a person whose dream for freedom and equality was heard by the World, the story of a grass roots organization that changed a Nation. 

To read more about Dennis Banks and the indigenous peoples of the USA, please follow this link:

Red Hawk's Lodge

"A Good Day to Die"  will be hitting the film festival circuit very soon. 

This was Michel Tyabji's first full on scoring job.  Music is by Dennis Banks, Glen and Aurya Begay, Techung and Michel Tyabji.   The film and trailer bothfeature live recordings of Techung and Lhasa Spirits at the Tibet Freedom Concert in Taipei (2008 -  Kito Rodriguez on bass, Bryan Valesco on keys and Michel Tyabji on drums and percussion).

We hope to have a trailer to post and a web site up for the film very soon.  Please check back.

Semshae, which means “Songs from the Heart” in Tibetan, is a project to create a new audio recording of Tibetan children’s songs. Many individuals are aware of Tibetan Buddhism’s culture of compassion and nonviolence, but they may not be aware that the continued existence of Tibetan culture is seriously threatened. Through music, Semshae will be able to preserve and distribute a part of Tibet’s culture around the world. It will be beneficial for Tibetan children in Tibet and in exile, and for the Tibetan-speaking regions in the Himalayas such as Nepal, Bhutan, Ladakh and Sikkim who share the same Buddhist language.

We got a sneak preview of the album last week.  As usual, Techung La performs well beyond expectations, weaving complex musical ideas into songs which are unusual, catchy and full of performances by children in Nepal, India and the USA.

 

If you can, please support this important project by following this link:

Dalai Lama Foundation

Heyraneh, Techung and Michel & Rosa Tyabji have been working on "Promise to Freedom", a contemporary poem sung in Farsi and Tibetan.  We think this may be one of the first times the Sufi and Tibetan musical traditions have come together.  Points of intersection include the Dramnyen and Tanbur, both similar in design and timbre, both belonging to the lute family.  Tantamount to the vocal styles of both the Sufi and Tibetan traditions is the praise of the beloved, the promise to freedom.

The video will be directed director Kevin Hamadani, whose film "Zombies of Mass Destruction" is distributed by Lions Gate.

We plan to go into production on the 19th of February 2010, and should have to video for ready by mid March 2010.

Please check back with us!

The Dalai Lama Renaissance album could not have been completed without the participation of some very special folks. We wish to express our sincere gratitude to those who gave their time and energy. We do not take it for granted. Please forgive us if we have not included your name here.

We thank His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama and Harrison Ford for being the inspiration for this album. For the fabulous graphic design and package creation, we send special thanks to Adil Tyabji; thanks go to Robert Tyabji for his photograph of the Himalayas and to Hootoksi Tyabji for her calm support. Our gratitude to Ann Horton and Fred Line, who listened and gave us encouragement when we needed it most. Thanks also go to Ann for organizing our performance at Yale University in 2008. Thanks to Granny, Boompa and Dadima for being shining examples. Many thanks to Terry Shaddick for his patience and advice. Finally, our deepest gratitude to Khashyar Darvich, David Mueller, Lynn Salt, Robert McFalls, Eric Babinec, Steven Ashley Wilson and the entire film production crew.

Techung & the Lhasa Spirits - Live at Carnegie Hall 02-03-09

The Tibet House Annual Benefit concert 2009 was held at Carnegie Hall on Feb. 3rd, 2009. Techung & Lhasa Spirits represented Tibetan music at the event. The line-up was fantastic, and included these performers: Philip Glass & the Scorchio String Quartet, Patti Smith, Steve Earle, Keb' Mo', Antibalas, Angelique Kidjo, Vampire Weekend, The National, Zack Glass, Jesse Smith, and the Monks of the Drepang Gomang Monastery.

TIBET HOUSE 19th ANNUAL BENEFIT CONCERT 2009

Event Details

When: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 At 07:30 PM

Where: Carnegie Hall

Details: Evening Concert & Benefit Dinner

Presenter: Philip Glass & Friends

Type: Benefit Concert & Dinner

Register: For more information or to reserve tickets for the concert and reception call Tibet House U.S. at 212.807.0563.

To date confirmed artists include:

Antibalas

Steve Earle

Philip Glass & Zack Glass

Angelique Kidjo

Keb’ Mo’

The National

Patti Smith & Jesse Smith

Techung & the Lhasa Spirits

Vampire Weekend

Monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery

We are expecting other artists to join the line-up soon.

Held at legendary Carnegie Hall since 1993, Philip Glass, the benefit's esteemed Artistic Director and Vice President of Tibet House, creates an exceptional show every year, highlighted by unique collaborations between the artists.

Please check www.tibethouse.org regularly as all new updates will be posted as soon as they are confirmed.

TECHUNG and the Lhasa Spirits

Techung studied at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA). He was born and grew up in the exile Tibetan community of Dharamsala, India. Techung presents a stunning blend of voices resounding from the past - this is where traditional folk meets the 21st century.

Techung is an astonishing singer and plays Damnyen (lute), Piwang (violin) and bamboo flute. His electric band, the Lhasa Spirits, includes Michel Tyabji on percussion, Kito Rodriguez on bass and Bryan Velasco on keyboards. Techung has opened for H.H. the Dalai Lama’s public talks and was recently detained for helping to hang banners on the Golden Gate Bridge.

The "UNDER AFRICAN SKIES" exhibit in the MUZEO, Anaheim, features music installation from Limitless Sky Records. The event was broadcast on KTLA, a major TV broadcaster in the grater Los Angeles area.  KTLA showed Michel Tyabji performing on the high Mohororo, an Mbira built by Garikayi Tirikoti. 

TECHUNG: TIBETAN SONGS OF LOVE & FREEDOM

Buddy Big Mountain is amongst the foremost ventriloquists in the World today. He was convinced by Henry Medicine Bear (composer on Dalai Lama Renaissance) to come to us for his upcoming album, "Have Skins, Will Travel".
The band, Wendell Snodgrasz and is Four Skins, features Windell P. Snodgrasz on lead vocals & Kazoo, Iron Horse on vocals & bass, Awesome Fox on vocals & drums and Buddy Big Mountain filing multiple roles - impresario, singer and default sidekick.
Henry Medicine Bear is on keys and doubles as head of security.

This was amongst the most out of control recording sessions we have ever been a part of. The Four Skins seem to have no bounds at all, keeping us on our toes for three days straight! We had to chase them out of the studio with a sharp broom because they refused to leave peacefully! Keep checking back for updates, more pictures and video.
We are sure this album will one of the funniest things you have ever herd!

Techung just got back to the US from playing the Penang World Music Festival. Michel Tyabji (Limitless Sky Records) was impresario and played drums and percussion with Kito Rodriguez on bass and Bryan Valesco on keys and percussion. The show went off very well.

Techung had the 10,000 strong audience enthralled and completely under his spell. Keep checking back for pictures, press and video of the show.

FEATURING WORDS OF WISDOM FROM HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA WITH NARRATION DONATED BY HARRISON FORD!

The Dalai Lama Renaissance Sound Track Album includes Sitar Master ROOP VERMA, traditional and contemporary Tibetan performer TECHUNG, Sufi devotional music from HEYRANEH, composer HENRY REID (from the group Manheim Steamroller), world-jazz fusion ensemble THE YOGINIS and Producer/percussionist MICHEL TYABJI. Guest musicians include tabla player Hemant Ekbote and bassonist Tyler Mazaika.

The album will feature selections of wisdom from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, taken from the documentary film, with narration by Harrison Ford.

The feature length documentary "Dalai Lama Renaissance" has made it to over 30+ film festivals worldwide, and has won 7 awards since June 2007. Currently still in the festival circuit, this feature docu will hit the cinemas in europe and North America in late 2008.

Please check back for this album and sign up for our mailing so we can keep you updated.

AFRICAN GUITAR KINGS: New Compilation released by SHEER SOUND, South Africa!

“SHEER AFRICA: Tales of series...” gives you the best African Jams ever heard from the continent, indeed the world, combining repertoire from all over. The “Best of the Best”, the series features the biggest artists and songs only and focuses on territories, instruments, genres and concepts.
Check out the Sheer Sound website for more info:
SHEER SOUND - SOUTH AFRICA

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NDALA KASHEBA Featured on the New Compilation AFRICAN GUITAR KINGS

“SHEER AFRICA: Tales of series...” gives you the best African Jams ever heard from the continent, indeed the world, combining repertoire from all over. The “Best of the Best”, the series features the biggest artists and songs only and focuses on territories, instruments, genres and concepts.

AFRICAN GUITAR KINGS: New Compilation released by SHEER SOUND, South Africa - For more details go to the Sheer Sound site: SHEER SOUND - SOUTH AFRICA

Ndala Kasheba: "Yellow Card"